[Is the new LAE 355 certificate useful for extended sick leave benefits?]

In Storstrøm county an investigation was carried out concerning certificates in connection with sickness benefit during a period of two months, and the general practitioners and the social-workers were asked about their opinion of and attitude to sickness-certificates. A total of 420 sickness benefit certificates were collected consecutively, and all the social-workers and 85% of the general practitioners participated. About half of the certificates were not completely filled out and only one fifth supplied constructive supplementary information. Forty-five percent of the social-workers and 33% of the general practitioners regarded the certificates as useless when dealing with social medical cases. A systematic followup of patients with long-term sickness is an important task in primary health care, and should be carried out in co-operation with other health- and social-workers.